The baronage of England, or, An historical account of the lives and most memorable actions of our English nobility in the Saxons time to the Norman conquest, and from thence, of those who had their rise before the end of King Henry the Third's reign deduced from publick records, antient historians, and other authorities / by William Dugdale ...

Stafford of Hooke.

I Come now to those collateral branches of this great and noble Family, not already taken notice of; touching whose memorable Actions our publique Records and other authen∣tique authorities, do make some mention.

Of these, the first I meet with, is Sir Iohn Stafford Knight, Sona of William Stafford of Bromshull, in Com. Staff. and descendedb from Hervey Bagot, by Milisent his Wife, Sister and Heir to Robert Lord Stafford. Which Sir Iohn Stafford, having marriedc Margaret Daughter to Ralph Lord Stafford (afterwards Earl) wasd in that expedition made into Scot∣land in 11 Edw. 3. togethere with the same Ralph Lord Stafford. And left issue Humphrey, his Son and Heir; who, in 40 Edw. 3. wasf in the Warrs of Gascoigne. So likewise ing 43 Edw. 3. being then a Knight, and of the reti∣nue h to Edward Prince of Wales, com∣monly called the Black Prince. Moreover, in 47 Edw. 3. he wasi in that Expedition then made into Flanders, in the company of Hugh Earl of Stafford.

And left issuek Humphrey his Son and Heir, called Humphrey Stafford with the Silver Hand; who marryedl Elizabeth the Daughter and Heir of ... Dynham Widow of Sir Iohn Maltra∣vers, of Houke in Com. Dorset. Knight. Which Humphrey, being afterwards a Knight, was She∣riff of the Counties of Somerset, and Dor∣set, in 12 H. 4. and by his Testamentn bearing date 5 Apr. ann. 1413 (1 Hen. 5.) (where he calls himself Sir Humphrey Stafford the elder, Knight) bequeathed his body to be buried in the Chappel of S. Andrew, adjoyning to that of our Blessed Lady, in the Abby of Abbotsbury; and gave to Sir Humphrey Stafford his Son, and Eli∣zabeth his Wife, one Charger, twelve Dishes, and Six Saucers of Silver. Not long after which, he died (for it was the sameo year) leaving Sir Humphrey Stafford, Knight, his Sonp and Heir; who then doing his homage, had livery q of his Lands.

A word or two now of the before specified Eliz. Wife to this Sir Humphrey with the Silver Hand. This Elizabeth, though she diedr in the lifetime of her Husband, made her Testa∣ment s bearing date 8 Sept. ann. 1405. (6 H. 4.) and thereby bequeathed her Body to be buried in the same Chappel of S Andrew, in the Abby-Church of Abbotsbury before mentioned, in the Tombe of Sir Iohn Maltravers, Knight, her former Husband: and gave to the Rector of S. Giles at Sta••leford, for his Tithes forgot∣ten and not paid; as also to celebrate a thou∣sand Masses for her Soul, and the Souls of her Ancestors four pounds, three shillings four pence. Likewise, to the Friers of Dorcnester, four pounds, three shillings, and four pence. To the Fricrs of Yevel, as much; and the like summe to the Monks of Abbotsbury. Moreover to three Priests celebrating for her Soul, and the Souls of her Ancestors; as also for the Soul of Sir John Maltravers, Knight, her late Husband (whereof two to officiate in the Church of Houke or Stapelford, and the third in the Chapel of Kentercombe, the next year after her de∣cease) fifteen pounds; viz. to each of them an hundred shillings. Also to Humphrey Stafford, and Elizabeth his Wife, her own Daughter, twelve Dishes and six Saucers of Silver: And to Katherine Cobham, the Wife of Humphrey Staf∣ford, a Cup of Silver gilt. Of which Testament she constituted Sir Humphrey Stafford Knight; her Husband, her Executor.

I now come to Sir Humphrey Stafford Knight, her Son.

This Sir Humphrey, in 8 Hen. 4. (being then a Knight) having marryedt Elizabeth (the Daughteru and Heir to Sir Iohn Maltravers Knight) Sister and Heir to Maude the Sister of Sir Iohn Dynham Knight, doingx his fealty, had liveryy of all those lands, which by her death descended to him; of which the Mannor of Houke wasz the cheife: and by his Testamentz, bearing date 14 Decem. ann. 1442 (20 H. 6.) bequeathed his Body to be buried within the Chappel of S. Anne in the Abby of Abbots∣bury, which he built there at his own Charge, joyning it to the Chappel of S. Andrew the A∣postle (wherein the Body of his Father lay bu∣ryed) and thereby gave unto Iohn, then Bishop of Bathe, and Welles, (his Brother) a pair of Flaggons of Silver gilt. Likewise to Hum∣phrey, his Grandson, Son to Sir Iohn Stafford Knight, his Son (by Anne Daughter of William Lord Botreaux) twelveDishes of Silver, and one Trussing-Bed; as also appointed that an hun∣dred pounds in Money, should, after one Month next ensuing his death, be spent upon his Fu∣neral at Abbotsbury, amongst Priests, poor people, and others coming thereto. And lastly, to William Stafford his other Son, all his Plate of Silver; and Likewise what was gilt, not al∣ready bequeathed. Which william marrieda Ka∣therine the Daughter and Coheir to Sir Iohn Chi∣diock Knight.

But I now come to Humphrey his Grandson and Heir; viz. Son of Sir Iohn Stafford Knight (who died in his lifetime.)

This Humphrey, in 30 H. 6. beingb a Knight, and sentc with some forces into Kent, against Iack Cade and his fellow Rebells, then in Arms; was by them Routedd, and Slaine at Sevenok, in that County; leaving issue, Humphrey his Son and Heir; who, upon the fifteenth of Iune, 1 Edw. 4 had a Grantf from the King of the Stewardship of the Dutchy of ••o••nwall, for life: as alsog of the Constablewike of the Castle of Bristol, and Forest of Kingswode, in Com. Glouc. Likewiseh of the Forests of Fil∣wode, in Com. Somerset. Gillingham, in Com.

Dorset. and Park of Gillingham, lying within the same Forest. And departedi this life upon the sixth of August the same year; leaving Hum∣phrey Stafford of Suthwike, his next Heir; viz.k Son of William Stafford, Esq Son of him the said Humphrey, then twenty two years of age.

Which Humphrey, in 2 Edwar. 4. was sum∣moned l to Parliament amongst the Barons of this Realm. And, in 4 Edw. 4. (24 Apr.) cre∣ated m Lord Stafford of Suthwike. More∣over having procuredn the death of Thomas Courtney Earl of Devon, (who had been ta∣ken prisonero at Touton-Field) in conside∣ration p of the acceptable services by him done, at the beginning of that Kings Reign, when the great contest was for the right to the Crown (as the words of the Patent do import) he was advancedq to the title of Earl of Devon, 7 Maii, 9 Edw. 4. having, for his better support of that Honor, a Grantr unto himself, and the Heirs Males of his Body, of the Mannor of Co∣lumpn-Iohn, and Fair-way, with the Ad∣vouson of the Church of Fair-way, in Comit. Devon. as also of the Mannor of Trelugan, and moity of the Mannors of Treverbyn, and Cragamur, in Com. Cornub. all which, Henry Courtney then deceased, Son of Thomas Courtney, late Earl of Devon, lately possessed, by right of inheritance, to himself and the Heirs of his Body, with remainder to the before-specified Thomas Earl of Debon, and his Heirs for ever; which Henry and Thomas then stood attainted s of Treason.

This Humphrey, some years before he was made Earl of Devon; viz. in 3 Edw. 4. by his Te∣stament t bearing date 3 Septem. bequeathed his Body to be buried, in the Church of our Lady at Glastonbury; and apointed that M^r. Nicho∣las Goss, and M^r. Watts, then Warden of the Gray Friers in Exeter, should, for the salvation of his Soul, go to every Parish-Church in the Counties of Dorset, Somerset, Wiltes, De∣von, and Cornwall, and say a Sermon in every Church, in Town and other. And because he could not recompence such, whom he had offended; he desired them to forgive his poor Soul, that it might not be in danger.

But it was not many months that he enjoyed this Honor of Earl of Devonshire; for, upon u that Northern Insurrection, under the conduct of Sir Iohn Conyers Knight, in the ninth year of King Edwards Reigne; havingx eight hundred Archers under his command, and meetingy with the E. of Pembroke, on Cotswould. with pur∣pose to joyn together, in the suppressing of those Rebells, who were then marching towards Lon∣don; they camey together to Banbury; where this Earl having takenz up his lodgings in an Inne, which he liked for a fair Damsells sake, whome he found there; was put outa of that House by the Earl of Pembroke (thoughb they had agreed, that he who came first, should not be displaced.) At which affront, he took such distast, that in great wrath he departedc thence with his Archers, so that Pembroke, being thus forsaken; and, the day following, meet∣ing with the Enemy at Edgcote, was utterly routedd, and taken prisonere.

Whereof the King being advertizedf, he forth∣with directedg his Letters to the Sheriffs of Somerset and Devon; commandingh them to take this our Earl, if they could possibly do it; and, without delay, to put him to death. Whereupon making search for him, they found i him in a Village within Brentmarth; and thencek carried him to Bridgwalter, where they cutl off his Head upon the seventeenth day of August 9 Ed. 4. After which his Body was buriedm at Glastonbury, in an Arch of the South-Cross, of the Abby-Church there.

The Lands whereof he died seized were as followeth, viz. the Honor and Mannor of Plympton, the Honor and Mannor of Oke∣hampton; the Boroughs of Cyverton and Chalvelege; the Mannors of Colcumbe, Colyton, Musbury, Whiteford, Coly∣ford, Columpn-Iohn, and Farel••eye, in Com Devon. the Mannors of Colylond, ••re∣berbyn, and Tregamure, in Comit. Cornub. the Mannors of Mershton Magna, West-Chinnok, Chiselbu••gh, Cradone, Puri∣tone, Elme, Lopyn, and Middle-Chinnock, in Com. Somerset. the Mannors of Hoke, Sta∣peiford; Over-Kentcombe, Nether-Kent∣combe, North-Purton, South-Purton, West-Chykerell, Burcombe, Loscombe, Yard, Winterborn-Martin, and Gorwill, in Com. Dorset. As also of the Mannors of Wil∣ting, Helington, and Castle of Hastings, in Com. Suss.

This Earl took to Wifen Isabel the Daugh∣ter and Heir to Sir Iohn Barre Knight, by Ido∣nea his Wife, daughtero and Heir to Iohn Hotoft Esq but had no issue by her; after which she marriedp to Sir Thomas Bouchier Knight, Son to Henry Earl of Essex.

Dying thus without issue, the Mannors of Morestoke, Stynesford, Botlesdon, Knoll, Brokehampton, Gussege, Burton, Farn∣ham, Mangerton, and Cherleton, in Com. Dorset. formerly by a Feoffamentq made to Iohn Stafford Archbishop of Canterbury, Sir Wil∣liam Bonvile Knight, and others, by the before specified Sir Humphrey Stafford Knight commonly called Sir Humphrey with the Silver Hand. (which Feoffers thereupon passedr them to Katherine late Wife of William Stafford Esq to hold for life; with remainder to Sir Humphrey Stafford Knight, Son and Heir to the said William, and to the Heirs of his Body lawfully begotten; and for default of such issue, to the right Heirs of the said Sir Humphrey with the Silver Hand) descended s to Elizab. the Wife of Sir Iohn Coleshill Knight Sir Robert Willoughby Kt. and Elianore the Wife of Thomas Stranguish Esq as Cousins and Heirs to the Said Sir Humphrey with the Silver Hand; viz. the said Elizabeth and Elianore, Daughters, and Heirs of Alice (Wifet of ... Cheney Knight) Sister of William, Father of the said Earl, and Robert Willughby, Son and Heir of Anne, the other Daughter and Heir of the said Alice.

Notes

• Iohn.
• a

  Ex coll. Samps. En••••wike arm.
• b

  Ex coll. Samps. En••••wike arm.
• c

  Ex coll. Samps. En••••wike arm.
• d

  Rot. Scoc. 11 Edw. 3. m. 14.
• e

  Rot. Scoc. 11 Edw. 3. m. 14.
• f

  Rot. Vascon. 40 E. 3. m. 8.
• g

  Rot. Vasc. 43 Edw. 3. m. 6.
• h

  Rot. Vasc. 43 Edw. 3. m. 6.
• i

  Rot Aleman. 47 E 3. m. 11.
• k

  Ex cell. S. E••••swike.
• Humphrey.
• l

  Rot Fin. 12 H. 4. m. 11.
• n

  Arundel Vol 2. 173. a.
• o

  Claus. 1 Pen 5. m. 13.
• p

  Claus. 1 Pen 5. m. 13.
• q

  Claus. 1 Pen 5. m. 13.
• r

  Arundel. Vol. 2. 173. b.
• s

  Arundel. Vol. 2. 173. b.
• Humphrey▪
• t

  Rot Fin. 8 H. 4 m. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• u

  Arundel, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 supra, 173 ••.
• x

  Ibid. Rot Fin. 1 H. 5 p. 1. m. 6.
• y

  Ibid. Rot Fin. 1 H. 5 p. 1. m. 6.
• z

  Chichler, Vol. 1. 48••. ••
• z

  Chichler, Vol. 1. 48••. ••
• a

  Rot 〈◊〉〈◊〉 28 H. 6. m. 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• Humphrey
• b

  〈…〉〈…〉
• c

  〈…〉〈…〉
• d

  〈…〉〈…〉
• e

  〈…〉〈…〉
• f

  〈…〉〈…〉
• g

  〈…〉〈…〉
• h

  〈…〉〈…〉
• i

  〈…〉〈…〉
• k

  〈…〉〈…〉
• Humphrey
• l

  Claus de eorem anno in 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• m

  〈…〉〈…〉.
• n

  〈…〉〈…〉
• o

  〈…〉〈…〉
• p

  〈…〉〈…〉.
• q

  p. 1 m. 13.
• r

  Ibid.
• s

  Ibid.
• t

  Godvn. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 39. b.
• u

  Holinsh. Chron. p. 672. ••
• x

  Holinsh. Chron. p. 672. ••
• y

  Ibid. n. 40.
• y

  Ibid. n. 40.
• z

  Ibid. n. 40.
• a

  Ibid. n. 40.
• b

  Ibid. n. 40.
• c

  〈…〉〈…〉
• 〈…〉〈…〉
• d

  〈…〉〈…〉
• e

  〈…〉〈…〉
• f

  〈…〉〈…〉
• g

  〈…〉〈…〉
• h

  〈…〉〈…〉
• i

  Ibid.
• k

  Ibid.
• l

  Ibid.
• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 9 E. 4. n. 30.
• m

  Lel. Itin. Vol. 3. f. 86.
• E••c. 9 E. 4. n. 30.
• n

  Vinc. Cort. p. 163.
• o

  Vine Cort. p. 163.
• p

  Vinc. Cort. p. 163.
• q

  Rot. Fin. 19 Ed. ••. m. 5.
• r

  Rot Fin. 19 Ed. ••. m. 5.
• s

  Rot. Fin. 19 Ed. ••. m. 5.
• Esc. 9 E 4. n 30.
• t

  Lel Itin. Vol. 6. f. 13.